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Electric bikes...the new rage!

Quadman2

Quadman2

Lunatic Member
A bud phoned me last night to inform me last night, and asked me to guess how much he spent on an electric bicycle...I guessed, $2k. He replied with, "Nope. $5K".

Having talked to the few I've met while walking, I thought the range was in the $1500-$2.5k, but after taking a look at this new transportation scene, I found out there's a host of bike out there, from $1k up to $22k. Like the one that Simon Cowell almost crippled himself on. At this time, he's considering taking legal action against the bike company who sold him this two wheeled motorized effort. This "sucker" can get up to 60mph!

And these bikes are optioned to the hilt in some cases, that can be motorized off and on at your pleasure as you ride along.

Guess the old "Bike World" has really changed in the recent past.

From what I can gather, they can't keep these bikes in stock as they're going out the door, faster than they can come in!


Look out "Hog" people. You just might get passed by one of these new transportation types!;)

Q
 
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Precursor to the modern electric bicycle is not the human powered bicycle. It's this:
upload_2021-4-30_9-52-53.png

I bicycle commuted in Seattle for 20 years before I left. It was for the exercise and exhilaration of powering myself up hills on my own. However, if I was going to go for a leisurely ride today in the open and at low speed, I'd really prefer one of these, and they are a LOT cheaper:
upload_2021-4-30_9-55-45.png
 
Wondering RR's preference - I know about the bellboy.
 
Quadman2 said:
A bud phoned me last night to inform me last night, and asked me to guess how much he spent on an electric bicycle...I guessed, $2k. He replied with, "Nope. $5K".

Having talked to the few I've met while walking, I thought the range was in the $1500-$2.5k, but after taking a look at this new transportation scene, I found out there's a host of bike out there, from $1k up to $22k. Like the one that Simon Cowell almost crippled himself on. At this time, he's considering taking legal action against the bike company who sold him this two wheeled motorized effort. This "sucker" can get up to 60mph!

And these bikes are optioned to the hilt in some cases, that can be motorized off and on at your pleasure as you ride along.

Look out "Hog" people. You just might get passed by one of these new transportation types!;)

Q
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Look out Hog people? The electric-glide is already here!
If these electric bi-cycles go for up to $22k, the new Live Wire electric hog is only a smidge above that at $30k ;)
https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/motorcycles/livewire.html
 
Geeze, no way would I pay that for a bike like the LiveWire that would add on at least an extra hour on a quick trip down to Houston to see my best friend and go riding.

I guess I'm just an old farte that has been riding for nearly sixty years, and suffered greatly under the old 55MPH national speed limit for years...
 
Mystic said:
"Ray" would agree...

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One of my favorites from the era. On a side note I FINALLY got me a good vinyl pressing of Thick as a Brick a few months ago. I had forgotten just how good that album is. :)

Love the beer in the video. :D

One thing I like about JT that I also liked about old Genesis: Lyrics. And not just a couple of verses and a chorus. A real story. A song with something to say. Modern poets.
 
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RobRoy said:
A lot of specialized stuff like this is getting really expensive. I was looking at a "side by side" for my "farm" and came across this:

One of my favorites from the era. On a side note I FINALLY got me a good vinyl pressing of Thick as a Brick a few months ago. I had forgotten just how good that album is. :)

Love the beer in the video. :D

One thing I like about JT that I also liked about old Genesis: Lyrics. And not just a couple of verses and a chorus. A real story. A song with something to say. Modern poets.
Click to expand...

Ian was --is -- a helluva storyteller. Yep.
 
eBikes ... Not so new though. I got mine several years ago.

Fun fact - they're considered "mobility enhancement devices" per the ADA regs (2011 revisions). I've pretty much ignored the "no motorized vehicle" signs on the local trails and had a blast with it ... I just carry a wallet size copy of the regs in my wallet.

Also something to remember - the regs differ in some countries. Technically, the States have a 500w limit, but a lot of foreign builds (like mine) are rated at 750 watts. Lot more grunt. I also recommend one with an instant on throttle - that's real handy for quick starts when crossing a busy street - give it a twist, and off you go.

Pretty sure the ADA regs wouldn't allow one of these though ... ;-}

Voxan-Wattman.png
 
My wife and I enjoy riding rail trails with our 36 year old Schwinns. They're still working fine and i've thought about buying newer road bikes, but at this point I think we're better off waiting a few more years and upgrading to electric assist bikes....that way we could ride anywhere ( wife hates going uphill...that's why we only do rail trails or along the flat shoreline ). Our average rides are 15 to 20 miles a day.

I've started looking at electric bikes online. Lots to choose from. My biggest concerns are battery life ( will i get another 36 years out of them ?) and weight. Our Schwinns weigh about 28 lbs all loaded up and i can easily get them inside our minivan...not sure i'd be able to lift some of the electric models.
 
BillyTheKid said:
My wife and I enjoy riding rail trails with our 36 year old Schwinns. They're still working fine and i've thought about buying newer road bikes, but at this point I think we're better off waiting a few more years and upgrading to electric assist bikes....that way we could ride anywhere ( wife hates going uphill...that's why we only do rail trails or along the flat shoreline ). Our average rides are 15 to 20 miles a day.

I've started looking at electric bikes online. Lots to choose from. My biggest concerns are battery life ( will i get another 36 years out of them ?) and weight. Our Schwinns weigh about 28 lbs all loaded up and i can easily get them inside our minivan...not sure i'd be able to lift some of the electric models.
Click to expand...

I have the VeeGo Fat Tire folding bike by Ride Scoozy. Riding with hills and using their larger battery 40 miles on a charge with you and a water bottle. Pulling a Schwinn dog trailer and a 25 pound Corgi 30 miles is the limit but I also don't ride my battery dead. There's 1 to 2 bars left. Will your battery last 36 year's? No. Seems 800-1000 charges is what's expected but that depends on how you treat the battery. A new battery for mine is 400 bucks.

Picking up a 65 pound folded Ebike to put in the back of my VW wagon is not fun. Always remove the battery and shed 10 pounds. Folding the bike also puts strain on the cables you can see so I don't fold it anymore. A bike rack is the way to go but it will need to be a strong rack for 2 bikes that weigh 130 pounds.

That's the paradox of ebikes. You get older and want the ride assist of an electric motor but then a 65 lb bike might be too much for the older person you've become. A coworker had to return hers because she couldn't handle the weight. While riding personally I don't notice the weight.

In the past year the one I bought has gone up 300 bucks and that's with the smaller battery.
 
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I've seen some kits where you replace existing front wheel with an electric one. It seems like a reasonable enough approach. I wouldn't have to buy entirely new bikes.
Does anybody have any experience with those ?
 
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